complement 1 of 2

noun

ˈkäm-plə-mənt How to pronounce complement (audio)
Definition of complementnext
1
as in supplement
something that serves to complete or make up for a deficiency in something else with his practicality and her refreshing enthusiasm, they are perfect complements to each other

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in capacity
the largest number or amount that something can hold a full complement of sailors on the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

complement

2 of 2

verb

ˈkäm-plə-ˌment How to pronounce complement (audio)
as in to adorn
to serve as a completing element to this silk handkerchief will complement your suit very nicely and give it a bit of dash

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complement
Noun
Caramel and banana complement each other perfectly in this recipe submitted by Southern Living reader Mary Vail-Grube. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 Sauces complement proteins, elevate vegetables and season grains. — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 14 July 2026
Verb
Her custom gown was designed with recycled metals and 115,000 crystal beads, while his bespoke pink look was complemented with Chanel High Jewelry pieces, per Vogue. — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 According to city planning staff, the mix of home designs and elevations is intended to create visual variety throughout the neighborhood while maintaining a cohesive streetscape that complements surrounding development. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for complement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complement
  1. supplement
  2. capacity
  3. adorn
  4. volume
  5. enhance
  6. real estate
  7. complete
  8. decorate
Noun
  • Some unexpected foods provide us with abundant amounts of leucine without having to resort to supplements.
    — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 23 July 2026
  • Second, fueling the cellular engine with proper nutrition, like complex carbs, and considering supplements like creatine, alongside hormonal rhythms.
    — Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of supplement
Noun
  • The state said only areas that have projects that add capacity to a road or significantly change a road qualify for sound barriers.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 26 July 2026
  • An economic indicator like median wages does not capture the capacity of family budgets to accommodate additional price hikes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Definition of capacity
Verb
  • Think slip-ons with rivets or studs, flats adorned with pearls, or sneakers with dainty floral embroidery.
    — Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026
  • Its ears, tall and adorned with turquoise paint, are as big as the couple standing beside me, admiring it.
    — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 July 2026
Definition of adorn
Noun
  • The first story was set in the 1980s while the second volume, recently wrapped, was set in the 1990s, at the dawn of the Internet age and culminated with a shocking finale that left readers’ jaws on the forest floor.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2026
  • New laws relating to the volume commercials can be played, how food items are labeled in stores and listed on menus and school phone policies are all set to take effect.
    — LeeAnn Weintraub, Oc Register, 25 July 2026
Definition of volume
Verb
  • For Greece, the investment is part of a broader effort to modernize its armed forces and enhance deterrence capabilities in a region marked by persistent security concerns.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026
  • While visual effects can enhance martial arts on screen, Wu argues that authentic filmmaking still depends on performance.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 25 July 2026
Definition of enhance
Noun
  • The prices in the list below concern residential real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of June 15, even if the property may have been sold earlier.
    — Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 24 July 2026
  • Property values increased by 60% in Miami-Dade in the half decade since 2019, and property taxes ballooned by almost 50% over the same period, according to real estate analytics firm Cotality.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Definition of real estate
Verb
  • The freshman four-year graduation rate is the percentage of undergraduate students who entered the university as freshmen and completed their bachelor’s degree within four years.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
  • Ivory Coast’s 20-year-old winger Bazoumana Toure started his nation’s opening game against Ecuador and then completed a £42million ($56m) move to Newcastle United the following week.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of complete
Verb
  • Rupnik had been one of the most celebrated contemporary religious artists in the Catholic Church, designing stylized mosaics that decorate churches and basilicas around the world, including at Lourdes and the Vatican.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
  • Behind the two men is an antique-style table with dragons decorating the legs, upon which sit two porcelain bird statues and a small pot filled with purple and white flowers.
    — Ben Jureidini, Vanity Fair, 21 July 2026
Definition of decorate

Browse Nearby Words

compleat
complement
complementary
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complement. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on complement

Nglish: Translation of complement for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about complement

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